The Miscellaneous Tangkas
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The below information is a description from the book "An Overview of China's Gold and Silver Coins of Past Ages - the Gold and Silver coins and Medals of Modern China" by Mr. Dong Wenchao. (p158, ISBN: 962-531-0001-0) The coin was a minted metal currency of Tibet minted in 1886 or the 12th year of the reign of Emperor Guang Xu of the Qing Dynasty. [I think the date should be 1896 or the 22nd year of the reign of Emperor Guang Xu of the Qing Dynasty. ykl] It was an imitation of the Nepal silver coin which was once widely circulated. The decorative motifs on both sides are different from the general metal currencies of the Tibetan local government, with the year of issue "30th year of 15th Jiazi by the Tibetan calendar" in the Tibetan language inscribed on the reverse side.
By courtesy of Mr. YZM |
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I received two commentaries about these types of tangka coin from two very advance experts of Tibetan coinage, Mr. Scott Semans and Mr. Lohan. I appreciate their helps very much. If you want to share your knowledge and enthusism in Tibetan numismatics, feel free to contact me please. I have placed below the two commentaries which are self-explained. Thanks indeed to Mr. Scott Semans and Mr. Lohan. Probably the best information that is known comes from Krause-Mishler, 19th Century volume, 3rd edition, p.1609: "The legend of this Rajana Tangka appears to be in ornamental Lansa script and has yet to be deciphered. The type is a copy of the Nepalese debased Tangka of Pretop Simha. Although struck unoficially, probably by Nepalese traders in Tibet between 1880 and 1912, it was legal tender, due to an edict issued in 1881 ordering that no distinction be made betrween false and genuine coins. The Tangka, C#27 was cut in parts of 3, 4, and 5 petals to make change and the resulting fractions are occasionally encoutered." The listing shows many false dates due to illiterate engravers, and mentions metal as billon, varying from 3.9 to 4.7 gram, further supporting that it was a private issue which gained legal sanction. Dear Y K Leung, Hello, thank you for the compliment. I do not know if I am a Tibet expert, but I am very interested in Tibet Numismatics. The 2 coins that you have, are listed under "Tibet" in the "Miscellaneous Tangkas" section of the Krause Catalog (20th. Century coins), as C#27. These coins are not high quality silver, they are of billion type (low percentage of silver). There are 4 accepted dates, (15-28, 15-30, 15-40, 15-46). (15-28 and 15-40) are the commonest dates, with 15-46 being the rarest. The legend appears to be ornamental Lansa script and has yet to be deciphered. The type is a copy of the Nepalese issue; 'Cho-Tang'. Although struck unofficially, they were fairly accepted as legal tender, due to an edict issued by China in 1881, ordering that no distinction be made between false and genuine coins. This type of coin was cut up to make change, and the resulting fractions are occasionally encountered, (3/4 tangka, 1/2 tangka, 1/3 tangka). Your 15-40 dated coin, or "1906" our calendar year, is one of the commoner years. Even though they were part of the Tibet coin system, because they were not actually officially struck, it is difficult to realise catalog prices for these coins. But, I still find them interesting. I feel that these coins are part of the coin history of Tibet. In Tibet, at the time, there was a big need for coinage, and even though these coins were mass produced outside of the mints, they still helped to alleviate some of the problem for this remote country. Your second coin dated 16-?2, is probably a very crude 16-92, or possibly 16-72. Besides the 4 before mentioned accepted dates, there are many crude meaningless dates, (13-16, 13-31, 13-92, 16-16, 16-61, 16-92, 92-39, 96-61, etc.). Your second coin would be one of this type. |
